Apple could introduce Wi-Fi 6E on the iPhone 14 next year, but the number of Wi-Fi chips that would require could put a serious strain on supply.
The iPhone 13 offers Wi-Fi 6 using the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. According to a report from analyst Ming-chi Kuo, Apple is expected to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E for the iPhone 14 and its long-rumored Apple head-mounted display, 9to5Mac reports.
There has already been some adoption of Wi-Fi 6E in the mobile space. Notably, the recent Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro offer it, as does the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. But if Apple adopts it, it may dramatically raise demand for the core components needed to offer it, specifically Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC).
“The number of channels supported by Wi-Fi 6E is 2–3 times that of Wi-Fi 6," Kuo explains. "If it is a 3×3/4×4 MIMO design, each channel requires 2–4 LTCCs, so the LTCC usage of Wi-Fi 6E is 10-20 or more than that of Wi-Fi 6." And this would constrain the supply of these necessary ceramic components.
The benefits of Wi-Fi 6E includes increased bandwidth and lower latency. The 6GHz band also suffers from less congestion than the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, which have been in use for years and get tasked with supporting slower legacy devices. However, this benefit is situational, as the 6GHz band will not have as easy a time going long distances and penetrating walls and floors as the 2.4Ghz and 5GHz bands.
The Wi-Fi 6E rollout in phones is only one part of the equation, though. Routers and access points offering a 6GHz band will be necessary for the feature to offer any benefit to users.